Roy Barreras
| Roy Barreras | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Senator of Colombia | |
|
Assumed office 20 July 2010 |
|
| President of the Senate of Colombia | |
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In office 20 July 2012 – 20 July 2013 |
|
| Preceded by | Juan Manuel Corzo |
| Succeeded by | Juan Fernando Cristo |
| Member of House of Representatives | |
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In office 20 July 2006 – 20 July 2010 |
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| Constituency | Valle Del Cauca |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
27 November 1963 Cali, Colombia |
| Political party | Partido de la U |
| Alma mater |
University of Valle Universidad Nacional de Colombia Alfonso X University |
| Profession |
Medical Doctor Politician |
Roy Leonardo Barreras Montealegre (Born June 16, 1957) is a Colombian politician and 2018 presidential candidate, currently serving as senator since 2010. In addition to senator, Barreras serves as chairman of the governing party, the Partido de la U. He first entered politics in 2006 when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives
Roy Barreras was born into a humble family in Cali, Colombia. His grandparents were from Spain, and fled to Colombia during the Spanish Civil War. His mother was from the countryside, her own family displaced during the Colombian conflict, and his father a medical doctor who was forced to travel far from home for extended periods as part of his profession. Barreras struggled during his childhood with bullying from his classmates, working odd jobs including as a taxi driver and an assistant in a bakery. He eventually followed in his father's footsteps and became a medical doctor, working for more than two decades in various parts of Colombia.
Barreras was elected senator for the first time in 2006, and has succeeded in each of his re-election campaigns since. In 2011, he was elected to head the congressional Peace Commission, and has been a strong proponent of the Colombian peace process. On June 14, 2017, Senator Barreras officially began his 2018 presidential campaign with a letter to constituents that was published in La Semana.
Despite his strong stance in supporting current Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Senator Barreras is considered a centrist, and his policy positions reflect his complicated upbringing. His reputation as a politician that is tough on crime has endeared him to those on the right, including tougher sentences for child abusers and stronger laws against drunk driving. However he appeals to the left as well with his advocacy for LGBT parenting and the right of gay parents to adopt children in Colombia.
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Wikipedia